A tugboat with eight people on board capsized off the coast of Busan.
According to Yonhap News and the Busan Coast Guard, the 286-ton tugboat A capsized around 1:29 p.m. approximately 9 kilometers southeast of Oryukdo.
There were six South Korean crew members and two foreign nationals aboard the tugboat.
One person was rescued by a passing cargo ship, while another was found unconscious and is being transported by the coast guard's rescue vessel.
The coast guard reported that the rescue operation is challenging due to strong currents and high waves in the area.
Currently, wave heights are between 1 and 1.5 meters, with northwesterly winds blowing at 4 to 6 meters per second.
President Yoon Suk Yeol was briefed on the capsizing incident and instructed, "Mobilize all available resources to rescue lives." He also urged for thorough efforts in managing the aftermath of the accident.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo emphasized the need to confirm the identities of those on board and ensure that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of National Defense, and the city of Busan actively support the rescue operations with available personnel and equipment, while also prioritizing the safety of rescue workers considering the local maritime conditions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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